Structure and piezoelectric properties of BiFeO3 and Bi0.92Dy0.08FeO3 multiferroics at high temperature

Multiferroic BiFeO3 and Bi0.92Dy0.08FeO3 ceramics were prepared to study their crystal structures and piezoelectric properties. BiFeO3 exhibits rhombohedral phase below 810°C. Although Bi0.92Dy0.08FeO3 ceramic also shows rhombohedral phase at room temperature, it allows the coexistence of rhombohedral phase and orthorhombic phase at 460–650°C. Both samples have maximum polarizations of >21μC/cm2 and piezoelectric d33 values of ∼37pC/N at room temperature. Their polarized slices show the dielectric anomalies and impedance anomalies because of vibrating resonances below 500°C, and the thickness vibration electromechanical coupling factor is ∼0.6 and ∼0.4 for BiFeO3 and Bi0.92Dy0.08FeO3, respectively. The vibrating resonances confirm piezoelectric responses. Furthermore, samples' impedance and resistance decrease fast with temperature increasing, which screens piezoelectric response above 550°C.